Typographical casting machine



3 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 5, 19.37. J. H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL CAST ING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5/1956 ATTORNEY;

Oct 5, 1937. J. H. HILPMAN 2,095,001 I TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE f Filed Sept. 5, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4.

INVE/VTOR 7 TTOIRNE w" s Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 5, 1937. J.-H. HILPMAN TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE Filed Sept. 5, 1936 V/IIIIIIFIIIIII/I/I/I/Il/IIII/(II/II F A INVENTOR X/M Y A TTORNEYJ' Patented Oct. 5, 1937 PATENT OFFICE TYPOGRAPHICAL CASTING MACHINE J ohn H.-Hilpman, Springfield Gardens, N. Y., as-

signor to Mergenthaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application September 5, 1936, Serial No. 99,566

20 Claims.

This invention relates to typographical casting machines, such as linotype machines of the general organization represented in United States Patent to O. Mergenthaler No. 436,532, wherein circulating matrices are released from a magazine in the order in which their characters are to appear in print, and then composed in line in an assembler, the composed line transferred from the assembler through an intermediate or delivery channel into a vertically movable transporter or first elevator which presents the line to the face of a slotted mold, the mold filled with molten metal to form a slug against the .matrices which produce the type characters thereon, and the matrices thereafter returned through distributing mechanism to the magazine from which they started.

In the existing commercial machines, the matrices are of standard form and dimensions and are commonly provided in their casting edges with two superposed characters ranging in size from 5 pt. to a maximum of 14 pt. The letter characters on the individual matrices are usually alike, the upper one being roman and the lower one italic, and the matrices are composed at one or the other of two different levels to bring either the roman or the italic characters into casting position. After composition, the matrices are maintained at their respective levels by means of rails which support them by their projecting ears during their circulation through the machine from the time of composition until after the casting operation. In the first elevator, the matrices standing at the lower level are sustained a by their upper projecting ears on a pair'of fixed upper rails, while those standing at the upper level are supported by their lower projecting ears on a single lower rail. This lower rail is retractible and, after the casting operation and 'upon the ascent of the first elevator to the upper transfer position, the retractible rail is moved forwardly from beneath the matrices standing at the upper level, in order to permit them to drop to the lower level preparatory to transfer of the line onto the second elevator'bar, The retractible rail is controlled by cam surfaces formed on'a fixed overhead bracket, which constitutes part of the machine framework and just clears the top of the first elevator when the latter has been arrested at its upper transfer level.

In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for larger faces and, in attempting to meet this demand, insofar 'as two-letter matrices-are concerned, many serious diificulties have presented themselves, Thus, the distance between the top of the lower character to thetop of the upper character (characters inverted) of a standard two-letter matrix is the same throughout the various fonts and, in order to increase this distance for characters above 14 pt., without disturbing the location of theupper character so that the latter character may still register as usual with the mold slot, it is necessary to utilize part of the regular space between the lower projecting ear and the top of the lower character. Consequently, when these two-letter matrices are formed with characters above 14 pt.,

they must be supported in the first elevator'at a correspondingly higher level to bring their lower characters into registration with the mold slot. Ordinarily, the space between the lower'projecting ear and the routing notch for the lower character is seven thirty-seconds of aninch, and. it has been found that this space may be reduced to threethirty-seconds of an inch, thereby giving four thirty-seconds of an inch additional character space. This means that when such additional character spacenis fully utilized, the matrices (which will hereafter be referred to as special matrices) will have to be supported in the first elevator at fourthirty-seconds of an inch above the normal upper level.

In a co-pending applicationyserial No. 86,590, filed in the name of Richard R. Mead on June 22,

1-936, certain improvements are set forth which permit the special matrices to be thus supported. Thus, there is provided in the line transporter, in addition to the customary or main auxiliary rail which supports the regular matrices atthe upper level, a supplementary auxiliary rail arranged immediately above the main auxiliary rail and which supports the special matrices at" the upper level in like manner. In the normal position of the parts, this supplementary rail stands retracted, so that the regular matrices when in use can be delivered onto the main auxiliary rail in the usual way. When, however, the special matrices are in use, the supplementary auxiliary rail is adjusted rearwardly to its active position, where it will support said matrices in thetransporter atthe upper level (when they are composed at that level), withthe lower edges of the lower routing notches in register with the datum line on the mold, which is the same for the special matrices as for the regular matrices. In the employment of such a supplementary auxiliary rail, the upper fixed rail .on the front wall of the line transporter (which ordinarily presents a bottom edge immediately overlying the lower projecting ears of the regular matrices "position just prior to being displaced upwardly supplementary auxiliary rail B located immediby a line of 18 pt. matrices, some composediat the upper level;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken longitudinally through the line transporter head and showing both of the hold-down members;

Fig.6 is a view similar toFig. 4, but with the hold-down member shown in its upper position;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1'; and

Fig. 8 is a vertical section through the line transporter head, showing the hold-down member locked in its lower position.

The regular matrices X (see Figs. 2 and 8) are of standard form and dimensions and are pro vided, as usual, with an upper pair of projecting ears X and a lower pair of projecting ears X In their casting edges, the matrices are formed with two superposed characters X and X ranging in size throughout the various fonts from 5 pt. up to 14 pt.

The special matrices'Y (see Figs. 3 and 1) are similar to the regular matrices in most respects, that is, they are of standard form and dimensions and provided with a similar upper pair of projecting ears Y and a lower pair of projecting ears Y Also, as in the case of the regular matrices, the special matrices Y are formed in their casting edges with two superposed characters Y and Y but these special matrices differ from the regular matrices in that the characters range in size throughout the various matrix fonts from 14 pt. up to say 18 pt. In addition, the lower projecting ears of the special matrices, on the rear or non-casting edges of the latter, are formed in their upper surfaces with notches Y for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The relative positions at which the regular matrices and the special matrices are supported in the line transporter are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. As previously stated, the distance between the top of the lower character and'the top of the upper character (characters inverted) of the standard two-letter matrices X is the same throughout the various fonts, so that, regardless of the size of the font, the upper and lower characters of a given font will be in perfect alinement with each other and with the mold slot when the matrices are supported respectively .on the upper and lower rails in the line transporter. The tops of the upper characters on the special matrices have the same location as the tops of the upper characters on the regular matrices, so that the special matrices may be supported at the lower level by their upper projecting ears and still be in register with the mold slot. In the case of the lower characters however, since the increase in size is obtained by utilizing a part of the regular space between the lower projecting ears Y and, what is ordinarily, the top of the lower character, the special matrices must be supported at a correspondingly higher level to bring their lower characters into registration with the mold slot.

In the normal operation of the machine, the composed line of matrices is transferred, as usual, to the vertically movable first elevator or line transporter A, wherein the matrices composed at the lower level (see Figs. 4 and 6), whether they be regular or special matrices, are supported by their upper projecting ears on a pair of fixed horizontal rails a, and those composed at the upper level are supported by their lower projecting ears on an auxiliary retractible rail B (see Fig. 8), if they bethe regular matrices, or on a mold after a casting operation.

ately above and supported by the auxiliary rail, if they be the special matrices (see Fig. 1). Upon receipt of the line, the first elevator descends untilit banks upon the usual vise frame (not shown), and in this way it positions the line in front of a mold D between a pair of line clamping jaws (likewise not shown) which are slidably mounted in guideways formed in the vise frame.

The mold (Fig. 1) comprises, as usual, a body portion D, a cap portion D and a pair of intermediate liners (not shown), the cap and body portions forming the upper and lower side walls of the mold slot, and the two liners the end walls thereof. The body portion of the mold also presents a pair of upper and lower alining ribs d and d respectively, which are positioned directly over and in engaging relation with the lower projecting ears of the matrices when the mold carrier is advanced to force the mold against the matrix line for the casting of the slug. In this connection, it may be mentioned that, dueto the higher level at which the special matrices must be supported in the first elevator to bring their lower characters into casting position, the upper alining rib d on the mold (which is intended only for the special matrices) is made proportionately thinner than the corresponding rib on the regular mold used for the regular matrices.

After the casting operation and the mold D recedes, the first elevator is raised to the fupper transfer position where the matrices are caused to assume a common level, and the line is then shifted horizontally by a transfer slide onto the second elevator bar (not shown) which carries the line upwardly to the distributing mechanism.

As best shown in Figs. 1, 5 and 7, the first elevator A includes a long vertical body portion slidably mounted, as usual, in the vise frame, and the improved head portion which comprises front and rear side walls A and A and the intermediate connecting block A arranged at one end of the elevator head. One of the fixed rails 11 is formed integral with the rear side Wall A while the other is presented at the upper edge of a bar A extending longitudinally of the head portion and screwed to the. front side wall A of the elevator head. The bar A in its lower edge, is recessed as at a and the upper face of the recess presents a depending tongue or rib a that extends into the notches Y formed in the lower ears of the special matrices when the latter are assembled at the. upper level (see Fig. 1). The engagement of the tongue a in the notches of the special matrices prevents the latter from being pulled rearwardly from their proper positions in the elevator head upon the recession of the Furthermore, the bar A acts to prevent the upward displacement of the special matrices when supported at the upper level in the transporter.

When the regular matrices (see Fig. 8) are assembled at the upper level, they are supported on the auxiliary retractible rail B sustained by a ledge A which forms a part of the front wall A of the line transporter. The auxiliary rail B is recessed at its opposite ends, as at b, in order to cooperate with a pair of small levers A (only one of which is shown) pivotally mounted adjacent their centers in the front wall A of the head portion. These levers, at their lower ends, are formed with nose portions a that'engage in the recesses I), just alluded to, and are urged in a direction (counterclockwise) to maintain the auxiliary rail i its active. position by a pair of "activeposition and', when the regular matrices are supported 'at the lo wer level'by' the engagement inf-their uppenears'with the fixed rails 'a the lower ears-of said'rnatrices stand beneath the V auxiliaryjrail, whereas, when the 'regular'ma'trices' 1 are'at the upper leveLthey are supported on'the 1 auxiliary rail by lthe engagement of their front *lower ears'o-ncthat portion'of the auxiliary rail that; projects beyond :the' rear face of the .front side wall A (see Fig; 8); 1 1

l V V Beforethe' regular; matrices which are sup n ported at the uppervlevelcan' be transferred to "the-second elevat'or for distribution, they must, .as previously stated, be dropped to the' lower level of the transporter, and this is brought about by the retraction of the auxiliary rail B, which is effected when the transporter arrivesat its upper transfer level; For this purpose, the levers A are formedat'their 'upper ends with cam surfaces 7: x a that engage a fixed bracket (not, shown) and which constitutes part of the fma'chine frame, j when the" first elevatorhas reached its upper v transfer 1'evel. :The leverscare cammed ina clocka ;wisefdirection to retractthe auxiliary rail' B;

1; againstthe tension of the springs A' whereupon V the'inatrices will drop to the lower'level for trans-s Vfer'and'; as .the line transporter again descends to. 1 its normal position, the levers arezreleased; wheree r 35 supports, thespecial matrices at'the upper level, is formed incits bottom surface with a recess B that fits over ,a raised portion B ef-the main upon the spring actuatedauxiliary rail is allowed to return to its vnormal active position.

g The supplementary auxiliary wrail. B which c-a'uxiliary' rail B, but therecess B 'is somewhat ,fwiderthanrsaid raised portion so as to allow forfl a certainamount of'relative movement between the two rails for apurposerher einafter,set forth. Unlike the main auxiliary 'raiL'the supplementary j auxiliary rail islnormally'maint'ained in a forward or: retracted position -'(Fig', 8) iniorder to stand out of the: way of th'e regularjmatrices when the latter arejsl pported'at the upper level on'the main auxiliaryrailjbut when the special matrices are used; the supplementary auxiliary rail is moved rearwardly to the positionshown in 7' FigJ ljwherein it presents a'ledge forthe support of the 'special' matrices at the-upper level by means of their lower projecting earsrY l The difference in width between the recess'B? in the H bottom of the supplenientary auxiliary rail and the'r'aised portion B of the main auxiliary rail is such thatthe supplementary auxiliary rail can ,be:adjusted'frorn.itsjinactive to its active position 7 j without -disturbing; the position of the main 7 V auxiliary rail;

The supplementary auxiliary, rail is adiusted from its inactiveito'its active position by 1 a pair of-s'lide members F and F arranged at the a 'top ;of .the first elevatorfandwhich are settable.

as a unit." Theislide members Efand F vare' arrangedforlimited iore-randaitfmovement and are guided in; such movement 'by an r overlying imemberG screwed tothe'first elevator at the top and which" presents opposed vertical surfaces G and G whichgby bearing against the lateral edgesfof' the slidesfact properly to; guide them xin' their movement. The overlyingmember G has '75: an opening G at the front; through which thepresents a bearing surface reacting; against the top face of the slide F to maintainlthe"latter in fsli'ding contact with the lower slide-F ;The i-membe'r" G likewise presents an fopening' Gi at the rear, through which the slides also extend? and; centrally located with respect: to this open-j portion extending into'a groove F 'withlwhich the slideQF is formedat thejtopand which acts to limit itsiore-and-aft movement. Thezlower slide Fl'is formedat its front endwwith' a hook or engage with a complementary recess F formed at the outer end of the slide]? at the top.

'handlei portion- F to facilitate, its adjustment, while the upper slide-F, at its'front end; presents; a depending lip' or fiange l i'arranged tofl'intere;

The arrangement is such that asi the slide F is adjusted forwardly ;by pulling on the ham dle F a corresponding adjustment; will be ef- 'fected in the slide Ff'by-virtue; of the cooperation 'between the flange and recess justmen-c fsl ides extend, the upper edgeof whicn'openig ing; is a stud G 'threaded into'thejmember ant-111' which is formed at its lower end with a'reduced tioned. Likewise, should'the slide F be'adjust'ed rearwardly, it will effect a corresponding adjust ment 'of the slideiFl through'the interengaging devices" justalluded to. Thenormal position of the slides, i e., -the position; corresponding to I the retracted position or the supplementary aux-I J I iliar'yf rail B is illustrated in r Fig. 8;- and this is determined by the'ba'nking of'the stud G agai'nstr s the rear; end of the grooveifl' formed inthe top of the slide F, whereas theirearward' position of the stud G 'against the fron't endofthe groove F2 (see Figvl). v V K The lower slide F is tions of adjustment by a spring pressed'detent the recess 9 to holdrtherupper slide in place,

held in either of-its posiin 40 'G which engages in one or the'other o-fr ap'air 1 V 7 of recesses g and glformecliin the bottomsurface of; said lower slide the' detentrbeinglhoused in a hole drilled in the first elevator ior'the V purpose. Not only d oes'the detent G hold the 7 lower slide F in'its different positions .of adjust ment 'but actually it'also holds the upper slide F when both slides are in the forward or'nor- Ymal position; it being noted that, undensuch conditions, thelrec'ess g in the lower slide reg-g '7 isters withna recess g in the upper -slideland; as the recess a is large and extendsthrough V the lower slide, the detentG will cooperatejwith the positionshown in Fig; 8 to that'shown inf Fig. 1, the; setting of the supplementaryaux iliary rail B to active position is effected through V mechanism which includesa pair of rocker arms" 7 H (only one of which is shown) pinned at the opposite ends of a rock shaft fH i journalled in furcated portions 1-1 that straddle the flattened ends'of a transverse rod H 'journalled at itsicen-Q terfin a bearing formed at therear end of the' "top slide'F. The rocker arms H are connected 3 at their lower ends by means of socket jointsto '7 thefforward ends of a pair of connecting rods; Hi, which in turnarej connectedlat their rear ends by similar'joints to a pair oileversfI-I? ar-i ranged adjacent to andipivotally mountedQon the same pivot rodsas thelevers A? which effect 1 "the retraction oflthe main auxiliaryrail B. These levers H are formed at theirlower endsivith,

V the overhanging portion ofthe elevaLtor'A and nose portionsthatcooperate with the supplementary'auxiliary rail B in much the same fashion as the levers A cooperate with the main auxiliary rail B, and it may be noted here that the supplementary auxiliary rail is slotted in the vicinity of the levers A in order that the latter may pass through the rail and cooperate with the main auxiliary rail in the manner hereinbefore set forth.

Accordingto the foregoing arrangement, the adjustment of the slides F and F rearwardly (see Fig. 1) will effect a forward movementjof the links H which, in turn, actuate the levers H in a direction (counterclockwise) to move the supplementary auxiliary rail B rearwardly or into active position; wherein it will support the special matrices Y at the upper level.

As .in the case of the regular matrices, the special'matrices, which have been supported at the upper level, must also be dropped to the lower level after the casting operation to permit transfer of such matrices to the second. elevator for distribution, and this is effected by the automatic retraction of the supplementary auxiliary rail. Such retraction of the supplementary auxiliary rail is effected by the same devices that retract the main auxiliary rail. As a matter of fact, when the supplementary auxiliary rail is in its active position (see Fig. l), the raised portion B of the main auxiliary rail banks against the front face of the recess B in the bottom of the supplementary auxiliary rail,

so that, as the levers A are cammed rearwardly upon the arrival of'the line transporter at the upper transferlevel, the supplementary rail'B will be moved forwardly or retracted along with the main auxiliary rail B. The retraction of the supplementary rail turns the levers H in a clockwise direction against the force exerted by compression springs H associated one with each of said levers, andwhich seat in recesses formed in the front elevator wall A and bank against lateral extensions H formed at the upper ends of the levers 1-1 This movement of the levers H is permitted by reason of the fact that the top slide F, under such conditions, is allowed to move forwardly with respect to the bottom slide F Upon the descent of the elevator A fromthe'upper line transfer position, the springs 1-1 will act upon the levers H to turn them in a counterclockwise direction to locate the supplementary auxiliary rail 13 again in its active position in readiness for the next line of special matrices, the top slide F at the same time, through its'connections with the levers H being returned to its original or rearward setting. It might be noted here that when the slides F and F are in their normal or forward positions of adjustment corresponding to the retracted or inactive position of the supplementary auxiliary rail E the springs 1-1 will be under compression, but they will not act to destroy the adjustment of the top slide, since, as previously stated, the .detent G holds the top slide when both slides are'located in normal position. The force exerted by the springs H is not sufficient to overcome the restraining effect of the detent.

So far as described,'the parts are substantially the same as set forth in the copending Mead application previously alluded to, and if desired reference may be had to that application for a more detailed description.

It will nowbe seen that'the matrices composed at the lower level, whether they-be regular or special, are held against upward'displacementby the engagement of their lower front projecting ears beneath the main auxiliary rail B,

and also that the special matrices composed at I the upper level on the supplementary auxiliary i rail B are held against upward displacement by the engagement of their lower front ears beneath the horizontal rail member A Since, however, the rail member A is cut away to accommodate the ears of the special matrices when supported at the upper level on the supplementary auxiliary rail B it will not perform the same holddown function for the regular matrices supported face of the rear wall A of the line transporter.

These members, as shown in Figs. 4 and .6, are each guided in their vertical movements by a set of three pin-and-slot connections J and are each constrained to move in a position always parallel with the transporter rails by a pair of equal-length links J the latter, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, being suitably spaced along the members in a horizontal direction and being pivotally connected at one end to the transporter side walls, as at J and pivotally connected at their other ends to the hold-down members, as at J In order that the members J and J through out their length, may be backed up'by the respective walls A and A of the line transporter,

said Walls are formed with recesses A of sufficient length and depth to accommodate the links J and of sufiicient vertical extent to permit of the necessary throw of the links during the Vertical movement of the members J and J When the supplementary auxiliary rail B is active as required for the use of the special matri-ces Y, both hold-down members J and J are free to move upwardly from their lower or normal position, shown in Fig. 4, and such upward movement will take place whenever a composed line of special matrices, with some standing at the upper level, is transferred into the transporter and onto the supplementary auxiliary rail, the upper level matrices effecting such movement by the engagement of their upper projecting ears with cam or inclined surfaces 7 formed on the ends ofthe hold-down members adjacent the entrance end of the line transporter. Fig, 6 shows such a composed line after it has entered the transporter and the hold-down members in their upper or raised position.

When the supplementary auxiliary rail -B is rendered inactive, which is'the conditionrequired for the-use of the regular'matrices X,'a pair of claw levers J pivotally mounted by tap screws J adjacent their centers at the top of theline transporter, will be adjusted from the position shown by the dotted lines in Fig.7 to the position shown by the solid lines therein. As the levers are thus adjusted, the inner ends thereof will first enter open recesses J formed in the upper edge of the front hold-down member J andthen move across oppositely inclined walls J 8 of saidrecesses (thus camming down the member J if it should accidentallybecome caught in its raised posi'- tion) into engagement with the straight upper" edge of said hold dowri member (see Fig. '7) thus locking it securely in its lower position; Consequently," when a line or regular matrices with Y some comppsed at the upper level istransferred ventaany rupward displacement' thereof, just aseffectively. as if the rail member A engaged their'lower. frontears as heretofore. Whenever the supplementary auxiliary rail' B1 is rendered active, the claw; levers J are withdrawnjfrom 1 theirrpositions overlying thehold-down member J, so; that special'matrices' composed at their higher'upper level can'be transferred to the-line" l; transporter injthe manner, previously described.

7 The adjustmentof,theclawleversJ is effected automatically by the supplementary auxiliaryrail settingslide Fl which, for this purpose '(s'eeFigQ 8), is formed at its Ieanendwith a downwardly 2o. V transver'se groover l into which there extends as extendingportion'F having inits bottom'face a 7 "pair of pins 7J projecting upwardly from the so upper level. .Onjthe other. hand; when the slide F is pulled fo'rwardlytorender the su'pple men forward lends of the clawlevers J .;Tlie"form .and arrangement of the parts is such-that; as the slide F is pushed rearwardlyto render the supplementary'auxiliary railactive the pins J are "forced toward each other, rocking the ,claw levers "J out. of engagementrwiththe holdeidown member Jl iand unlocking it.so;that;it may befree to be raised by special matrices standing'fiat the tary 'auxiliary rail inactive, thepins J Jare moved away frome'ach'other; rocking the claw levers J inthef opposite direction to lock hold-down member J in its lower position} so that it will: 7 prevent any' upward displacement of regular 7 matrices supported at the'upper' levelj To relieve'their pivot screws J of unnecessary strain whenjthe hold-down member J is'called' upon to resist 'the'upward displacement'of the upperilevel regular'matrices, the claw levers J? r are backed up or reinforced by a'horizontal'plater A overlying the rear ends of the levers and which is screwed securely to the line transporter at the top;

'edges with-thin flatsprings J made'with'a per :manent downward bow and running'longitudi nally of the members practically throughout their entire length. ,The'sp'rings areformed adjacent their opposite: ends with lugs J seated in re- 'cessesJ formed in the outer faces of the mem- "bers J and J and attached. to said members by pins'J fixed'in'th'emembers and which pass 7 through holes J drilled in the lugs. Both' the" recesses J and the holes J are made over-sizev 'so" that the springs can straighten out and? adjust themselvesto the matrix linesvasthe latiter 1' enter the transporter." The springs, at the entrance end of the transporten'are formed with upwardly curved portions J pressing against 3 shoulders} formed on the 'hold-down members;

and serving to avoid interferenceiwith the composed: lines ,as they enter rthe transporter. f

. Thefpurpose :ofthe'springs J", as statedJat the outset, is to prevent the turning or twisting V *pofrthe matrices when supported at;,the"uppe'r level; S ince the springs are carried by the holddown members J and 'J they are capablerof oc- V *cupyingtwordifferent operative positions, one (a,

operativeposition of the springs. V p H friction 'exerted bythe spring on the ,rear ho1d-.

rices or the, other "will automatically control the Naturally the down. member J when the latter occupies' its' a lower position will depend'upon the lifting re! 'sistance offered by that member when the spring I is engaged by the upper level regular matrices and for that reason the 'hold-down member, if

positioned to rest by gravity uponthe upperears of 'said matrices, mightcreate enough friction in and of itselfto answer the requiredlpurpose, 5; and especially if p aidedfinsimilar fashion by the? j front hold-down member butthe presence offthe" spring on the 'rear hold-overfmember insuresthe: s l desired resultand,moreover provides a flexiblematrix engaging surface ,which will conform ito irregularities in 'alinement of the top edges of thel m'at'rices; w '7 1In thelaccompa'nying drawings, the improve-- ments have been shown merely by way of example and in preferred form; and obviously many V variations and modifications may be made there [in which'will still be comprised within its spirit. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any specific form or em- 1 bodiment, except insofar as such limitations are.

specified'in the appended claims Having thusjdescribed'my invention, what I 30' r 1. In or for a typographical casting machine,"-

r a line transporter"provided with mea'nsfor'sup-i porting matrices at relatively-different upper levels, and with a'hold-down member operative in displacement and beingmovable from such posi'a a line transporter provided with means for;sup

porting matrices at relatively different upper lev-T 1 els, and with a hold-down member mounted for limited vertical movement," said member being 7 v a r V operative in a lower positionto en a e matrice As t in Figs. 4 ;to 6, both hold-down g g one position to engage matrices when "supported V at one 'upper-levelfto'hold them against-upward when supported at a'lower upper level to hold them against'upward displacement and movable to an upper position to permit-matrices tobe supported at ahigher upper'leve r 3. A line transporter according to claim 2,

wherein the hold-down member is movable au tomatically to its upper positionrbyr standing at the higher upper level as the line is transferred into the transporter. I

member b'e'ing'operative in a lower position to engage matrices when supported at a lower upper V level to hold them against upward displacement and. movable to an upper positionltopermit mat i rice's to be supported at a higher upper level,thef

latter matrices being adapted upon entering the j'transporter' to cooperate with the inclined 'surface and raise the hold-down member to its upper position. i l

5. In or for a typographical casting-machine,

a line transporter provided with meansfor sup porting matrices at relatively difierent upper lev-;

els, and with a hold-down member arranged to engage matrices when supported at one upper level to hold them against upward displacement and movable out of the way by matrices when supported at another upper level, and releasable means for locking the hold-down member against movement when the first-mentioned matrices are in use.

6. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular twocharacter matrices or a set of special two-character matrices, a line transporter provided with a pair of alternatively usable rails for supporting 'the matrices of the two sets at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position, and with a hold-down member arranged to cooperate with the regular matrices when supported on their respective rail for preventing the upward displacement thereof and being movable out of the way to permit the special matrices to be supported on their respective rail.

'7. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular twocharacter matrices or a set of special two-character matrices, a, line transporter provided with a pair of alternatively usable rails for supporting the matrices of the two sets at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position, and with a hold-down member arranged to cooperate with the regular matrices when supported on their respective rail ,for preventing the upward displacement thereof and being movable out of the way to permit the special matrices to be supported on their respective rail, and releasable means for locking the hold-down member in its matrix engaging position when the transporter is set for use with the regular matrices.

8. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular two-character matrices or a set of special twocharacter matrices, a line transporter provided with a pair of alternatively usable rails for supporting the matrices of the two sets at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position, a hold-down member arranged to cooperate with the regular matrices when supported on their respective rail for reventing their upward displacement and being movable out of the way by the special matrices as they enter the transporter to be supported by their respective rail, and releasable means for locking the hold-down member in its matrix engaging position when'the transporter is set for use with the regular matrices.

9. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular twocharacter matrices or a set of special two-character matrices, a line transporter provided with a pair of alternatively usable rails for supporting the matrices of the two sets at relatively different upper levels to locate their lower characters in casting position, a hold-down member arranged for limited parallel movement in a vertical direction and adapted to engage the regular matrices when supported on their respective rail for preventing the upward displacement of said matrices, and releasable means for locking the hold-down member in its matrix engaging position when the transporter is set for use with the regular matrices, said hold-down member at the entrance end of the transporter being formed with an inclined portion adapted to be engaged by the special matrices as they are transferred into the transporter to cam" the hold-down member out of the way when the transporter is set for use with the special matrices.

10. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular two-. character matrices or a set of special two-character matrices, a line transporter provided with a main auxiliary rail and an overlying supplementary auxiliary rail for supporting the regular and the special matrices at relatively different upper levels respectively, means for adjusting the supplementary auxiliary rail into and out of active position, a hold-down member movable to and from a position wherein it will hold the regular matrices against upward displacement from the main auxiliary supporting rail, and releasable means for locking the holddown member in such position, said locking means being rendered effective as the supplementary auxiliary rail is adjusted to inactive position and being released as said rail is adjusted to active position.

11. In or for a typographical casting machine adapted to be equipped with a set of regular two-character matrices or a set of special twocharacter matrices, a line transporter provided with a main auxiliary rail and an overlying supplementary auxiliary rail for supporting the regular and the special matrices at relatively different upper levels respectively, means for adjusting the supplementary auxiliary rail into and out of active position, a hold-down member movable to and from a position wherein it will hold the regular matrices against upward displacement from the main auxiliary supporting rail, releasable means for locking the hold-down member in such position, and common devices for adjusting the supplementary auxiliary rail to active and inactive position and for concurrently releasing and rendering effective said locking means, respectively.

12. A line transporter according to claim 7, and wherein the releasable locking means is in the form of a pair of elements movable across or clear of the upper edge of the hold-down member. 1

13. A line transporter according to claim 7, wherein the releasable locking means is in the form of a pair of elements movable across or clear of the upper edge of the hold-down member, and wherein the hold-down member is formed in its upper edge with bevelled walled recesses to receive said locking elements in the event that the hold-down member is accidentally caught in its raised position.

14. A line transporter according to claim 1, and wherein the hold-down member is arranged to engage the top edges of the upper projecting ears of the matrices.

15. In or for a typographical casting machine, a line transporter provided with means for sup-- porting matrices therein at different levels, and with means, distinct from said supporting means, operative to hold matrices supported at an upper level against upward displacement.

16. A line transporter according to claim 7, and wherein the hold-down member is provided along its lower edge with a thin flat matrix engaging spring, as and for the purpose described.

17. In or for a typographical casting machine, a line transporter provided with means for supporting matrices therein at different upper levels and with means acting frictionally to resist turning of said matrices, said friction means being movable to two different operative positions to V .ent upperflevelsl-r o Y cooperate with niatrices supported at the difi'er-i- "218; In or 'for'a typographical oasting machine,

ported at the different upper levels. r

p 19. 111 error artypographical casting machine,

a line transporter provided with means'for supporting matrices therein at different upper levels, andiwith a long flat downwardly-bowed spring for" engaging the top; edges of the matrices, said 20. In or for a typographical casting machine,

a line transporterprovided with-means for sup porting matrices at different upper level'sand with 'a pair of thin flat f'downwardly bowed springs arranged to engage the top edges of the r r 7 matrices when supported at such levels, said' spring being movable to two different operative positions tocoo perate with the matrices supported at the'difierentu'pper levels;

springs being movable to two differe'ntroperative Z positions to co-operate with matrices supported at thedi fierent upperlevels; V J j i V o r JOHN H: 

